The Origins of Lolita Fashion: Part 3 - The Feminist Impact

Hello everyone, and welcome to the third and FINAL part of The Origins of Lolita Fashion!

In the last part, I wrote about how the fashion came to be what it is, and where the fashion took inspiration from. (Read Part 1 here, and Part 2 here.)

Today we will discuss the feminist impact the fashion has despite its conservative aesthetic.

We answer the final question: "Is Lolita fashion feminist?"

Last time I wrote about a feminist impact that Lolita fashion has, I mentioned that in Japan, Lolita fashion was worn by girls who refused to live up to the common expectation of finding a husband and becoming domestic obedient wives, and instead dressed for themselves, and for their own happiness.

Well in the West, it was a bit different.

While many girls in the Western Goth and Punk movement preferred fishnet stockings, short skirts, lace-up combat boots, and corset tops as their choice of weapons to fight the suppressing, man-made "Good Girl" image that demonized any girl who preferred to behave otherwise, I believe the conservative side of Lolita Fashion fought a different form of suppression: an American archetype I like to call, The Malibu Barbie.

Throughout most of the early 2000s in America, most girls in the magazines and on TV were often clad in questionably tacky and revealing clothing, mostly in bright colors. Most girls featured in TV shows, pop music, and movies targeted towards young girls were also perky, white, rich, and blonde.

That made very little room for any other kind of representation that broke away from that model.

Paris Hilton during that time was a prime example of The Malibu Barbie.

Paris Hilton during the 2000s.

In commercials, if super models weren't in tight-fitted tops and short skirts eating food in a questionably suggestive way, they were in lingerie or swimsuits. They had skinny waists, perfect cleavages, and shaped butts in small panties. (Remember those controversial Carl's Jr. ads that got taken down?)

It was an unhealthy boost of hypersexualization and promotion of the super model build of women in the media, and it became a problem that still goes on today!
It was the perfect way to make girls and women feel insecure.
It was the perfect way to entice young girls into believing that if they spend money on products listed in their favorite magazines that tell them how to lose weight and look hot, they will get a boyfriend, become popular, and be satisfied.

I believe Lolita Fashion, especially Gothic Lolita, fights that.

It runs far away from the male fantasy,
it denies men the view of the naked female body,
it strengthens the idea that a girl should dress for herself instead of catering to a desire for popularity and the male gaze,
it strikes fear into people who refused to understand alternative fashion, music and culture.
and it refuses to let the wearer become sucked into the media that profits off of insecurities and low self-esteems.

Gothic Lolita Psycho 2010

To me, Lolita fashion really takes from the liberal spirit of Punk rock. The same spirit that called for people to break away from the oppressive Government and the mainstream media's idea of how everyone should be. The same spirit that called for people to be who they are and embrace it. The same spirit that tells women that no matter what they wear, they are NOT made to be objects of sexual interest, they are people who have the right to what they wear, and what they do!

Now, I am not saying that grown women can't dress however they wish to, because they certainly can!
I am saying that grown women ALSO have the right to keep their bloomers on, and their shoulders covered should they wish to, and women deserve to be seen for who they are as a person rather than by the sexualized parts on their body.

Lolita fashion, unintentionally enforces a girl's right to protect her own body from those who have little to no respect for her privacy, and her right to pursue her own personal happiness over catering to a man's wishes.

I say, that's pretty damn feminist!

So now we come back to the questions at hand.

When did Lolita fashion first begin?

Answer: During Japan's Goth and Punk movement in the late 1980s-early 1990s, and the fashion took a lot from the earlier days of that movement in its style and attitude.

How did Lolita fashion become what it is?

Answer: Lolita fashion is said to have taken a big majority of inspiration from the Victorian and Rococo eras, and that inspiration was combined with Gothic and Punk fashion to create a new style. A couple of the biggest contributors to the fashion are the magazine Gothic Lolita Bible, and prominent designer brands Moi-Même-Moitié, and Vivienne Westwood.

Is Lolita fashion feminist?

Answer: Personally, I believe Lolita fashion IS feminist. It certainly fights against the male fantasy, as well as certain forms of female suppression, even if it's unintentional.

Thank you so much for reading, I hope those wanting to get into Lolita fashion or are already into the fashion feel proud to wear it, and really feel the spirit of it!

-Blandis